Device for continuously controlling condiments grinding in a mill

ABSTRACT

Device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill in which the drive element comprises a thimble  6 , a thimble support  4 , a wheel  9  and a fixing annulus  11  for fixing to the mill, the device being characterized in that the rotational movement of an adjustment ring  3  fitted with an adjustment stop  5  independent of said device results in a translational movement of said thimble support  4.

The present invention relates to a continuous-adjustment device for thegrinding of condiments such as salt, pepper or any other spice in amill. This type of device is already known in the prior art, where thegrinding action is adjusted by modifying the position of part of thegrinding mechanism of the condiment mill, allowing step changes in thedegree of fineness of the grinding.

In this type of prior-art device, when adjusting the grinding action,the operator is in contact with the condiment. This means that there isa risk of the product becoming contaminated.

In addition, it is not possible with this type of device to adapt theadjustment to electric condiment mills, since it has to be positionedwhere the condiments come out.

It should also be emphasized that the grinding adjustment device isdependent on the body of the condiment mill. This means that if theadjustment device deteriorates, the whole mill has to be changed.

It is an object of the invention to solve these various drawbacks byproviding an adjustment device for the grinding of a condiment in themill that offers continuous adjustment of the grinding, avoids contactbetween the user and the product to be ground, and enables the finenessof the grinding to be adjusted.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a device foradjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill in which the driveelement comprises a thimble, a thimble support, a wheel and a fixingannulus for fixing to the mill, the device being characterized in thatthe rotational movement of an adjustment ring fitted with an adjustmentstop independent of said device results in a translational movement ofsaid thimble support.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be gained from thedescription given below with reference to the attached drawing in whichthe FIGURE shows an exploded view of the grinding adjustment devicebefore it is fitted on to the drive pin of the condiment mill.

The device 1 according to the invention consists of an adjustment ring 3having an adjustment stop 5, a thimble 6, a thimble support 4, anattachment ring 11, and, surrounded by a wheel 9, a drive pin 7.

The top part of the device 1 according to the invention consists of anadjustment ring 3 which is operated by turning it. The top of thisadjustment ring 3 is provided with an adjustment stop 5 with an indexingbar 12.

This indexing bar 12 can be used to set the grinding to certainwell-defined sizes. However, the grinder can also be adjustedsensitively, that is all the way around the adjustment ring and not onlyin the notches provided for this purpose.

The bottom of the adjustment ring 3 has fixing clips 13 for attachingthe adjustment ring 3 to the attachment ring 11. These clips 13 willpreferably be in the form of plastic teeth.

On the inside of the adjustment ring 3 is a screw thread 14 by which itis fixed to the thimble support 4.

The bar 12 of the adjustment stop 5 indexes the adjustment ring 3 withrespect to the thimble support 4, thus enabling the degree of finenessof the grind to be adjusted.

The thimble 6 is fixed to the thimble support 4, defining specificrelative positions in rotation.

The thimble support 4 is provided with a reinforcement 15 which makescontact with the adjustment stop 5 of the adjustment ring 3 at theforward and reverse limits. It is level with the notches 16 which takethe indexing bar 12 on the outer top face of the thimble support 4.

The thimble support 4 also possesses five notches 16 designed to takethe indexing bar 12. It therefore offers five indexed positions, but theintermediate positions are still possible, so there is a great varietyof size of grind.

On the outside of the thimble support 4 is a screw thread 17 allowing itto be engaged with the adjustment ring 3. This screw thread 17 isinterrupted at regular intervals so that there is no obstruction to themechanism 1 according to the invention if some of the condiment getsinto it.

On the underside of the thimble support 4 are screw columns 18, enablingthe thimble 6 to be held non-rotatably in the attachment ring 11,creating a sliding connection.

This annulus 2 has a purely decorative function. It may be ornamented invarious ways.

The attachment ring 11 that fits underneath the thimble support 4 isprovided with two housings 19 to take the fixing columns 20 of thethimble support 4. These housings 19 also prevent the thimble support 4from rotating. The inside top part of the attachment ring 11 is providedwith a protective collar 21 to stop condiment being thrown into themechanism.

The drive pin 7 of the condiment mill, the top end of which has holdingsprings 8 and a wheel 9, is then placed in the assembly formed by theattachment ring 11, the thimble 6, the thimble support 4 and theadjustment ring 3. The wheel 9 is thus clamped in the thimble support 4and the thimble 6. The spring 8 can be replaced by a plastic distancepiece for “salt” movements to avoid any risk of corrosion.

The drive pin 7 has knurling 22 to enable it to be held in the assemblyring 23.

The assembly ring 23 sits underneath the attachment ring 11. It isforce-fitted onto the drive pin 7 where it grips the knurling 22.

The reservoir 24 is mounted on the attachment ring 11.

The adjustment ring 3 screws onto the thimble support 4. In a fixingmovement, its spring clips snap onto the attachment ring 11.

The thimble 6 thus fits between the adjustment ring 3 and the thimblesupport 4.

Turning the adjustment ring 3 therefore results in a vertical movementof the thimble support 4.

This movement will be limited both by the stop 5 and by thereinforcement 15. It may have a maximum amplitude of 3 mm, thus varyingthe fineness of the grind.

By contrast, the vertical position of the wheel 9 is fixed. The wheel 9is held in the vertical direction by the thrust stop which has circlipsunderneath it. The thrust stop may be fixed either to the fixing annulusor directly to the body of the condiment mill (which is not shown).

Since the thimble support 4 cannot turn, it cannot be pulled round bythe rotary movement of the wheel 9. This ensures that the adjustmentsetting is not accidentally altered.

The mill adjustment device according to the invention modifies theposition between the wheel and the thimble by moving the thimble, not bymoving the wheel as is the usual practice.

This adjustment device offers continuous grinding. What is more, it isindependent of the operation of the rest of the mill and is thereforereadily adaptable to different types of mills, whether manual orelectric, by means of an adapter.

The adjustment ring can be decorated to suit different models ofcondiment mills, which may be made of wood or stainless steel, forexample.

In addition, this type of grinding adjustment device can be adapted bothto pepper mills and to instruments of different kinds, owing to itsgeometry and compact design.

Moreover, the adjustment system according to the invention reducesmanufacturing costs because it consists of few parts.

Although the invention has been described with particular embodiments,it encompasses all technical equivalents of the means described.

1. A device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill in whichthe drive element comprises a thimble 6, a thimble support 4, a wheel 9and a fixing annulus 11 for fixing to the mill, the device beingcharacterized in that the rotational movement of an adjustment ring 3fitted with an adjustment stop 5 independent of said device results in atranslational movement of said thimble support
 4. 2. The device foradjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that said adjustment ring 3 is provided with aninternal screw thread
 14. 3. The device for adjusting the grinding of acondiment in a mill, as claimed in either of the preceding claims,characterized in that said adjustment ring 3 clips onto said fixingannulus 11 by means of plastic teeth
 13. 4. The device for adjusting thegrinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that said adjustment stop 5 of said adjustmentring 3 is provided with an indexing bar 12 for the adjustment ring 3,and with a sensitive adjustment system.
 5. The device for adjusting thegrinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the thimble support 4 is provided withnotches 16 designed to take the indexing bar 12 of said adjustment stop5 of said adjustment ring
 3. 6. The device for adjusting the grinding ofa condiment in a mill, as claimed in one of the preceding claims,characterized in that said thimble support 4 comprises an outside screwthread 17 that is interrupted at regular intervals.
 7. The device foradjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the thimble support 4 isprovided with screw columns 18 on its underside.
 8. The device foradjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in thepreceding claims, characterized in that said wheel 9 is held in positionby the thrust stop.
 9. The device for adjusting the grinding of acondiment in a mill, as claimed in the preceding claims, characterizedin that said thrust stop is held in position by circlips and springs.10. The device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, asclaimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rangeof movement of said adjustment ring 3 on said thimble support 4 is 3 mm.11. The device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, asclaimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that thethimble support 4 is provided with a reinforcement 15 which takes theadjustment stop 5 of the adjustment ring
 3. 12. The device for adjustingthe grinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimed in one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the attachment ring 11 isprovided with a protective collar 21 on its inside top part.
 13. Thedevice for adjusting the grinding of a condiment in a mill, as claimedin one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pitch or angleof the stop 5 is variable.